Meet Volkswagen’s Chinese Army Of Four-Door Sedans

While European customers love C-segment hatchbacks like the Golf, world markets tend to favor compact sedans, or notchbacks, which account for almost one third of all deliveries to VW brand customers.

In China alone, the German carmaker sold 1.6 million compact sedans last year, and is currently marketing a total of six models to its Chinese buyers through joint ventures with SAIC and FAW, as well as the Jetta sub-brand.

The latter was launched in 2019, marking the first time in VW history that a model name went from a simple designation to an independent sub-brand with its own dealership network.

Jetta VA3

If you add sales figures for the previous version of the Jetta, together with those of the Jetta VA3, then you could say that VW sold 145,000 units of the four-door sedan in 2019. At 4.5 meters (14.7 ft) long, the Chinese model is considerably more compact than its North and South American sibling, and is aimed primarily at first-time buyers.

FAW-Volkswagen Sagitar

The Sagitar has been in production since 2006, although now FAW-VW is building it in Changchun and Chengdu. The third-gen model is based on the carmaker’s MQB platform and is available with either a 1.2-liter TSI unit or a 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged one.

Since 2019, it’s also been available as a long-wheelbase version, with the wheelbase itself measuring 2.73 meters (8.95 ft) in length, compared to the U.S. Jetta’s 2.69 meters (8.82 ft).

SAIC Volkswagen Lamando

The Lamando has been in production since 2014, and is regarded as being a four-door notchback coupe with a wide body (1.82 meters / 5.10 ft) and a height of 1.42 meters (4.7 ft). It also sits on the MQB platform and has an overall length of 4.6 meters (15 ft), to go with a 2.65 meter (8.7 ft) long wheelbase.

Available power units include a 1.4-liter TSI four-pot and a 2.0-liter TSI unit, the latter being used on the sporty GTS variant. SAIC Volkswagen sold no fewer than 101,000 units of the Lamando last year.

FAW-Volkswagen Bora

VW’s joint venture with FAW has led to 323,400 units of the Bora being sold last year. This four-door sedan is available either with a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, a 1.4 liter TSI turbocharged unit, plus as an electric version, the e-Bora.

It measures 4.66 meters (15.3 ft) in length, 1.81 meters (5.94 ft) in width and has a wheelbase of 2.69 meters (8.82 ft).

SAIC Volkswagen Santana

The Santana that’s currently being sold in China has nothing to do with the original version of the nameplate, which was based on the Passat.

This one however was developed specifically for the People’s Republic and is quite compact at just 4.48 meters (14.7 ft) long, 1.71 meters (5.6 ft) wide and with a wheelbase of 2.60 meters (8.53 ft). Roughly 245,000 units were sold last year.

SAIC Volkswagen Lavida

The third-gen Lavida has been on sale in China since May of 2018 and currently stands as the best-selling overall model in 2019 with 491,000 units sold. Like the Bora, you can also get a battery-electric Lavida in the e-Lavida, which shares its powertrain with the e-Golf.

It stands 4.67 meters (15.4 ft) long, 1.81 meters (5.94 ft) wide and has a 2.68 meter (8.8 ft) long wheelbase.

Last year, the Volkswagen brand together with its Jetta sub-brand delivered 3.16 million vehicles to Chinese buyers.